To the virtuous accomplished lady, Madam S. C.

Madam,

The French valet, according to his natural insolence, throws himself at your feet, not in his broken English, with a beggar Madam, mee voul ave it de so, but in that dialect used by the most refined wits, Vous supplie très humblement le regarder d’un aspect favorable.

Which blessing he vows is a sufficient safeguard against those three fatalities of books: envy, spite and malice. I know, Madam, that to have shrouded under your generous protection all that the greatest gallantry of the two most polite nations of the world, could have wound up to the highest sublimity of wit; had worn some face of justice, which might have rendered the presumption excusable. It being so generally known, that none with more reason than yourself, could undertake the censure of what is so much your own, I mean La parfaite connaissance du beau Monde. But Champagne’s crime can plead no excuse and being beyond the reach of ordinary clemency, can have no other hopes, than in that goodness which shines with so much Lustre throughout all your actions. Take pity of him, Madam and while your hand is in, pardon also the liberty which his advocate takes, of subscribing himself,

Madam,

Your most humble servant,

P. B.